Library Faculty (E-31A)
Original Implementation: 1970
Last Revision: April 24, 2007
Stephen F. Austin State University seeks to maintain the strongest library faculty possible. The University thus provides for advancement based upon the librarian's academic credentials and experience, professional performance, contributions to the University community and the profession of librarianship, and service to the general community through his/her professional expertise. In order to assure that recommendations and administrative decisions relative to the promotion of librarians are equitable, the following principles and procedures are observed.
1. Rank
While the contributions of the University librarians are both scholarly and an important extension of the teaching function of the University, the usual titles denoting ranks of the teaching faculty do not best describe the responsibilities of librarians. Instead, each librarian has both a position title and a title of rank. The titles of rank and consist of Librarian I, II, III, IV, with Librarian IV being the highest rank. These ranks do not apply to the three library administrative positions--Library Director, Associate Director of Information Services, and Associate Director of Technical Services.
2. Criteria for Appointment and Promotion:
a. The minimum criterion for appointment to any rank as Librarian at the University is a master's degree in library science from a school accredited by the American Library Association. (The M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. is generally considered to be the terminal degree for practicing librarians.)
b. Beyond adequate credentials, the following levels of performance should be present for promotion:
(1) An individual promoted to the rank of Librarian II should have the demonstrated capabilities to be an effective and productive librarian and a contributing member of the academic and general communities as evidenced by substantial job accomplishments and participation in professional library organizations or professional service to the university or the community.
(2) An individual promoted to the rank of Librarian III should have a proven record of effective and productive librarianship and have made numerous professional contributions to the academic and general communities through presentations at professional meetings, professional publications, or service to library organizations.
(3) An individual promoted to the rank of Librarian IV should be a librarian whose contributions to the profession of librarianship are substantial and are recognized beyond the confines of the local campus to be of high quality. The applicant's professional contributions to the academic and general communities should be significant as evidenced by exceptional records of accomplishment in the lower ranks.
c. In order to hold either of the upper two library ranks, an individual is expected to have previous professional experience and to have held a lower rank. Ordinarily, to be promoted to the rank of Librarian III, an individual should have held the rank of Librarian II for at least five years. To be promoted to the rank of Librarian IV, an individual should have held the rank of Librarian III for no fewer than three years.
d. A record of truly exceptional performance in some areas of the basic responsibilities to librarianship, performance, and service may mitigate against slight contributions in other areas in consideration for promotion, within the performance guidelines established for each rank. The evidence to support promotion based upon exceptional considerations must be unequivocal.
3. Promotion Procedures:
a. A librarian may be nominated or apply for promotion. A nomination may be initiated by an individual librarian or the appropriate Associate Director. The applicant/nominee is responsible for developing and submitting to the Associate Director a packet of supporting materials a current vita, and a completed Promotion/Tenure Application form. The packet of supporting materials should contain information sufficient to judge the merits of the promotion application.
b. Applications/nominations are placed in a special file in the office of the Library Director and are accessible for evaluation and recommendation by any professional librarian. Formal comment by librarians concerning the applications/nominations must be submitted on the Recommendations on Promotion/Tenure form.
c. Review Panel:
(1) Each application/nomination for promotion, including all supporting materials and written signed comments from the professional librarians with regard to the applicant/nominee's credentials and performance as a librarian will be reviewed by a panel of not less than five librarians.
(2) The panel will consist of the non-competitive members of the Library Academic Advisory Council, excluding ex officio members, who hold the applicant/nominee's present rank and above.
(3) In the event that the panel thus constituted is fewer than five members, the panel will select the remaining members from among the other non-competitive librarians holding the applicant/nominee's rank or above.
(4) Applicants for the rank of Librarian IV will be reviewed by the members of the Library Academic Advisory Council which shall constitute the review panel.
(5) Each member of the review panel will complete the Recommendations on Promotion/Tenure form.
d. The Associate Director of the applicant/nominee's division will evaluate the packet of materials submitted by the candidate, librarians' comments and the recommendations of the review panel and will forward these materials along with his/her recommendation to the Library Director. The Recommendations on Promotion form will be used to transmit the Associate Director's recommendation.
e. The Library Director will review the supporting materials prepared by each applicant, the librarians' comments, the review panel recommendations, and the recommendation submitted by the Associate Director and will recommend to the Vice President for Academic Affairs that the applicant be promoted/not promoted, with comments concerning the judged strength of the application. The Library Director will submit to the Vice President for Academic Affairs a summary of the recommendations of all participants in the review process and the packet of materials prepared by each applicant.
f. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will review these materials as a basis for making recommendations to the President of the University. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit to the President a recommendation to promote/not promote for each candidate for promotion, along with the packet of materials prepared by each candidate and the recommendations made at each step of the review process.
g. The President of the University will review these materials and recommendations and any other evidence deemed pertinent as a basis for his/her recommendation to the Board of Regents that the candidate be promoted. After the decision of the Board of Regents, the packet of supporting materials prepared by the candidate will be returned to the applicant.
h. Promotion in rank is by action of the Board of Regents of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Periodic Evaluation
Each librarian cites periodically his/her accomplishments in areas such as library service, scholarship, publication, teaching, research, individual achievements, and other public or university service. His/her accomplishments are discussed personally with him/her by the library administration and are preserved in writing for future reference. The librarian, in turn may discuss each librarian's progress with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Compensation
Adequate and equitable career salaries, properly graduated through the academic ranks, are established and maintained to provide incentive for professional growth, to support morale, and to recruit highly qualified personnel. The department heads are compensated for their added responsibilities. Librarians accrue vacation and compensatory time the same as other state employees and are free to take their vacation at any time during the periods they are under contract subject to supervisor approval. Vacation time may be accumulated according to the limits established for state employees. Librarians receive the same holidays as other state employees.
Work Load
Professional librarians are appointed for twelve-month terms and receive staff vacation time and state holidays. Tenured librarians employed as of April 21, 1998, will not be required to work twelve-month contracts.
Appeal
Should a librarian feel that the above policies and standards have not been followed in his/her case, he/she has the right to appeal his/her case on the same basis as that established for other members of the faculty.
Library Academic Advisory Council
A Library Academic Advisory Council functions as a committee to advise the University Librarian on policy matters and to consider any matter it deems appropriate.
Five members, all professional librarians, with at least two years of service at Stephen F. Austin State University, elected in September by the professional staff, comprise the Council. Council members serve for two year staggered terms. If not elected to this Council, the librarian who is the Faculty Senate representative is an ex officio member of the Council. The Council elects its own chairman. Note: The change from three to two years is recommended because prospective staff changes in the next several years may significantly limit the number of librarians who can serve.
The Council meets at the call of the chairman and shall meet at least once in the fall and once in the spring semesters.
University Governance
Librarians have all the voting rights granted other members of the faculty. They are eligible for membership on the Faculty Senate and on faculty committees. These include, but are not limited to, the Curriculum Committee, the Graduate Council, and those committees having implications for library collections and services as well as for curriculum development.
Leaves
Librarians are eligible for faculty development leaves on the same basis of eligibility granted other members of the faculty.
Research and Grants
Librarians are eligible for grants, fellowships, and research funds on the same basis as other members of the faculty.
Tenure
Librarians are eligible for tenure in accordance with tenure regulations set by the University Tenure Policy E-50A. An additional criterion for awarding librarians tenure is satisfactory job performance. In considering job performance, the library director may choose to review the librarian's annual evaluation forms. The librarian may also include documentation of job performance in the tenure packet, such as part of the annual evaluations or other documentation.
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
Librarians have the protection of academic freedom and are to exercise professional responsibility and judgment. There shall be no censorship of library resources.
Cross Reference: Faculty Handbook
Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Forms: None